The local AYUDH youth group had been very active in preparing the programme and helped in all fields of seva. To welcome Amma to the city, they held a 20 km long bike parade.

Once Amma arrived at the ashram she served prasad dinner and sang bhajans. Then she asked everyone to meditate and pray for world peace. Amma has been making this request at every stop of the tour -telling her children to imagine white flowers of peace falling like snowflakes, spreading peace within and across the world.

Continuing in a joyful mood, Amma asked two children traveling with the tour group to tell jokes over the microphone. With their innocent and funny remarks, the children spread smiles and laughter all around. As Amma asked the audience for questions, a western devotee made the suggestion to create an opportunity for devotees to take selfies with Amma during darshan, to which Amma replied: ‘The real photograph has to be taken with the heart. It remains with us as a memory of love.’

Many renowned personalities came to seek Amma’s blessings. Amongst them were Shivakumar, Minister for Devaswam, cinema film stars Suresh Gopi and Amala Paul, and singer Ramesh Narayan. Children of the Trivandrum Amrita Vidyalayam also displayed stunning performances of both Eastern and Western culture.

With this, the first leg of Bharat Yatra 2015 came to an end, leaving all of Amma’s local children, as well as the 800 people accompanying Amma on this tour, with many beautiful and blissful memories – the real ‘selfies’ of the heart, remaining forever with her children.

Amma held a public programme on the grounds of at her Amrita Vidyalayam school in Kanyakumari.
Amongst the dignitaries at the function were Swami Chaitanya Maharaj and Pon Radhakrishnan, Minister for Surface Transport.

Kanyakumari being the centre of the Vivekananda Kendra, many of it’s members came and payed their tribute to Amma.

In his welcoming speech, Swami Chaitanya Maharaj said: “At the Parliament of Religions of the World in Chicago, Swami Vivekananda started his speech by addressing everyone as “my sisters and brothers”. It was his vision to see everyone as brothers and sisters. Amma is doing the same – she is traveling all over the world and by her embrace and spiritual message proclaims that all are the children of one mother. Amma has no expectations from anyone and she keeps giving spiritual and material welfare to all who come to her. She sees all as her children and she doesn’t encourage any conversion. If Bharat (India) dies, the world will die. But Bharat won’t die, it will give peace and love to the entire world. Amma takes the message of Bharat to the whole world. Swami Vivekananda had the vision that the Bharat Mata (Mother India) is sitting on a throne, guiding people. His vision has came true now. Bharat Mata is sitting here in the form of Amma, guiding the whole world.”

The students of various local schools actively participated in the Amala Bharatam Campaign, cleaning the entire programme premises and educating the the public about recycling and composting.

Earlier, upon arrival in Kanyakumari on Jan 21 Amma held satsang and bhajans and distributed prasad dinner to one and all on the rooftop of the Amrita Vidyalayam.

As darshan came to an end on Jan 23, the sun was rising over Amma’s shoulder. Another day had started – a day when Amma was to console and guide thousands more along the path of love and peace.

On January 20th, Amma visited Virudu Nagar. The programme was held at the Khatriya Vidya Salai and included Amma’s satsang, bhajans, manasa puja and darshan.

Welcoming Amma to Virudunagar, BJP State Presedent Tamizhisai Indira Soundararajan said: “A flower that removes the pain and sorrow of all, that gives joy and makes everyone smile, that spreads peace to one and all – what is that flower? It is Amma’s divine smile (Sirippu).

“People come to Amma with a load of sorrows that can be likened to carrying a rock. But when they receive Amma’s darshan, they feel light and fly like butterflies. No matter how much medicines a doctor gives, he can not remove the mental disease of the patients. Only Amma can accomplish this curing of the heart and make people feel comfortable.

“Amma’s hug is meant to be the connection with the Atman. This connection is possible because of Amma’s love towards everyone. On today’s Amayasya day (no moon day) Amma has come as the full moon that gives joy to all. She is the light that removes the darkness within and without.

“Just like a fish hatches it’s eggs by looking at them, Amma is Goddess Meenakshi who takes care of her children by her mere look.”

During the public function, Amma distributed certificates for students of Embracing the World’s Sivakasi JSS programme to acknowledge the successful completion of their vocational training courses.

During the last hours of the programme, local devotees brought the traditional ‘mulapari’ mud pots to Amma, performed a dance and received her darshan. Amma embraced not only every devotee, but also each pot and plant that was brought to her.

It had been more than 30 years that Amma visited Virudu Nagar. The last time had been in 1983, when she held a programme in the temple Periyar Kaliamman Kovil.

As the sun rose in the eastern sky, Amma still continued giving darshan. Fully radiant like a sun of love, Amma finally entered her camper, casting one last glance and smile at her children of Virudu Nagar. Along with many other beautiful memories of Amma’s programme, this smile will remain in the hearts of the devotees forever.
– Kannadi

After Amma had distributed prasad dinner at her Madurai ashram on Jan 16, she encouraged her children to put questions to her. Amma said that the quality of the questions asked indicates the spiritual evolution of the questioner. She said, “To know the taste of the sugar inside a bag, there is no need to taste the entire stock. It is enough if we try a sample from the bag. To check if the rice is boiled inside a bowl, there is no need to examine all of it. It is enough if we test one or two grains. Similarly, to know the spiritual evolution of the disciples, it is enough to hear a few of their questions.”

Amma continued, “In olden days the disciples asked the Guru about Mithya (the changing or unreal nature of the world), or they might request the guru to elaborate on Tatvamasi (Thou Art That), and the Guru might give an answer in one or two words. The disciples contemplated on this reply and wrote elaborate commentaries about it. Actually, the Guru’s answer can be likened to a small key which is enough to open a big treasure chest containing priceless treasures.”
Encouraged by Amma’s words, one of the devotees requested Amma to elaborate on the Upanishadic statement Tatvamasi (Tat – Tvam – Asi; Thou Art That).

Amma said, “It is very easy to repeat such statements. But one needs to realize the truth indicated by them. Just as the electric current passing through the bulb is separate from the bulb, your true nature is different from your body. Of course, the light comes through the bulb but it doesn’t belong to the bulb. Your true nature is the Atman. If you realize the pure self, you become an all-knower. (Knowing that the Atman is the essence of all things and beings).

“Suppose a person by the name Madhavan passes by. One might say, ‘Madhava is passing by.’ And, if he dies and people are carrying his dead body, one might say, ‘Madhavan’s dead body is passing by.’ What is that which enlivened Madhavan’s body? It is the indwelling consciousness. That is your true nature!

“Usually, people answer the phone by saying, ‘Hello! I am so and so speaking’. Everybody says ‘I am’ while answering the phone. ‘I am’ is universal. The ‘I’ is the indwelling consciousness.

“Say, there are 1000 pots of water kept in a place. And the sun is shining brightly. We might see 1000 suns reflected in those 1000 pots of water. Actually, there is only one sun. Similarly, the Atman is just one. This Atman is all-pervading.

“The all-pervading nature of the Atman is indicated by the Upanishadic statements ‘Tatvamasi‘ and ‘Ishavasyam Idam Sarvam‘ (All of This is Pervaded by Divinity). To awaken to this truth, one needs to contemplate constantly. Right now, our attachment to the body, mind and intellect is very deep.”

In order to explain this, Amma told a story, “Once, three people named Madhava, Govinda and Keshava were walking. One person called from the back, ‘Hey! Madhava!’ and Madhava turned back. Next he called, ‘Hey! Govinda!’ and Govinda turned back. Then he called, ‘Hey! Keshava!’ and Keshava turned around. Finally, the person called, ‘Hey! Monkey!’ and all three of them turned back. This shows that the identification with our animalistic tendencies is still very strong.

“Merely repeating scriptural statements is not enough. It is not enough to say ‘flower’- we need to become like a flower. If we write ‘honey’ on a piece of paper and lick it, we won’t experience the taste of honey. Similarly, merely verbalizing scriptural statements is not enough. One needs to get established in the truth. You have to become That.

“Selfless service purifies the mind and makes a person fit to imbibe scriptural knowledge.

“The Puranas say that when the milky ocean was churned, the goddess of wealth, a horse, and a divine elephant appeared first. Then the deadly poison emerged. Out of compassion to save the universe, Lord Shiva consumed the poison. Only after that, the Ambrosia came out. The story indicates that only when we develop the attitude of acceptance even to poison, do we become fit to receive the Ambrosia.

“Therefore, contemplation, selfless service and the attitude of acceptance are qualities most needed to become established in Tatvamasi.”

Amma held two day Brahmastanam Festival at her ashram in Madurai. The programme included archana, bhajans and darshan. To the delight of the devotees Amma led the manasa puja in Tamil. Due to the large crowds at the programmes, some devotees had to wait for a long time until it was their turn to receive Amma’s embrace. To comfort the devotees, Amma repeatedly announced in Tamil: “be patient and drink enough water, I will give darshan to everyone!”

In order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Brahmastanam festivals in the city, the local devotees had undergone a 9-day fast and performed a special ritual that involved the sprouting of seedlings in mud pots (Mulapari). Towards the end of darshan on the last day these mud pots were carried on the heads of the devotees as they performed a traditional dance. Amma and all those present delighted in the outpouring of their devotion and played and danced along with them.

The evening Amma arrived in Madurai from Chennai, she served prasad dinner to everyone, sang bhajans and engaged in a very lively and profoundly spiritual conversation with her children. She elaborated on the importance of selfless service and the deeper significance of the upanishadic principle ‘Tatwamasi’.

After a gap of two years Amma visited her Chennai ashram for a Brahmastanam Festival on Jan 14 and 15.

The day Amma arrived, Jan 13, was the day prior to the Pongal Festival. As Amma was serving dinner to everyone, she asked the devotees to tell spiritual stories and speak about the deeper significance of Pongal.

After her bhajans, satsang and manasa puja on Jan 15 Amma herself gave a special Pongal message to all devotees. Speaking in Tamil, she said:”‘Pongal’ means ‘overflow’. It is a symbol of man’s overflowing love towards nature and nature’s overflowing love towards man. It is also a festival of harvest: with good thoughts and actions man worships nature. In return, nature gives her blessings in the form of a good harvest. Thus the individual mind and the universal mind overflow and become one. Pongal is a symbol of that oneness. The real Pongal is when our hearts overflow with love and compassion through good words and actions. Then only we will lift ourselves from manhood to godhood.”

Due to the holiday period, the programmes in Chennai were even more crowded than usual. Thousands of devotees came to seek Amma’s blessings and divine inspiration.

For the two days of Amma’s visit, the vibrant buzz of Chennai city was enriched by a much more profound and uplifting kind of buzz: the vibration of pure love, the joy of selfless service and the beauty of celebrating our unity in diversity.

On the auspicious occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s 152nd birthday, January 12th, Amma held the first public program in the city of Erode, Tamil Nadu. The event was held at the Vellalar College grounds – a huge field overflowing with thousands of devotees, gathered to partake in Amma’s satsang, bhajans, meditation and darshan.

Erode is one of the most fertile and prosperous cities in Tamil Nadu, well-known for its worldwide export of turmeric and textiles. The residents of Erode are also known for their gentle and peaceful nature, which reflects in the low crime rate of the city. Indeed, throughout the program a silence and peace was palpable in the crowd.

Among the dignitaries attending the public function were EVKS Elangovan, Congress Committee President and former Central Minister; S.K. Mayilanandham, president of the spiritual organization Vedathri Maharishi; and C. Swami Nathan, Vice-chancellor of Periyar University.

Speaking on the occasion, Elangovan said: “Amma is the foremost in spirituality. As a politician, even five minutes of public reception to me is hard. However, Amma has hugged 4 crores of people. That tells me that she is not an ordinary person. I am astonished by her actions – whenever you take the name of Sanyasis, they usually differentiate between themselves and others, and even when they give prasadam they wont touch them. No matter how poor you are, , how dirty ones clothes and how sweaty, Amma hugs all and gives them blessings. I cannot describe her selfless service in words. Doing good for everyone is her seva – and that seva is flawless.”

To the delight of the devotees, Amma led the Manasa Puja in Tamil and also sang many new Tamil bhajans.

May the seeds of Amma’s love, which fell so abundantly onto the fertile ground of Erode, unfold and grow into trees of compassion.